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Experts explain what nail trends to lean into this year.

Even nail enthusiasts lose their creative streak and have no idea what they want when they go into the salon. If you find yourself pacing along the nail polish wall at your weekly manicure spot only to settle on a color you’ve worn out a dozen times, then it’s time for a bit of inspiration to help update your nails. Selecting a color you trust is fine, but it might be fun to step out of your comfort zone and give this year’s best nail trends a try. If you love nail art but lack inspiration, nail experts are here to help.

The good news is that, for 2022, French manicures are here to stay — but with a twist. “French is the look we’re seeing on all shapes of nails today, whether it’s squared, almond, or coffin,” says Syreeta Aaron, nail artist and LeChat Nails educator. Aaron also notes that abstract art is still a nail trend that’s making its way into the new year. “It’s another form of imagining whatever is flowing through your mind to put on a nail,” she says.

If you’re looking for something fun, Anastasia Totty, LeChat Nails educator and ​​owner of Artistique Nails, urges you to add bright swirls to your next mani. “This trend dominated 2021, and I believe it is not over yet,” she says. “Nail lovers are ready for beautiful and bright manicures to start a new year and brighten the mood.”

If you like to play it safe and stick with a simple color, opt for blue. “Influencers and designers across the world say that true blues will be very popular in 2022,” Totty explains.

Ahead, check out a few more of the 2022 nail trends to inspire your next manicure.

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You've seen graphic designs all over the nails of some of your favorite celebrities lately, and you're likely to see them plenty more in the year to come.

"Think smiley faces, evil eyes, mini hearts, aliens, or even more personal graphics," says celebrity nail artist and Nails of LA founder Brittney Boyce. "These started popping up last year but it'll grow in 2022, particularly on a single color manicure or bare or neutral nails."

Of course, you don't have to visit a salon to experiment with nail art. "People at home can DIY this look easily with nail decals or nail wraps," Boyce says.

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Nail expert Elle Gerstein wants you to try a Russian manicure this year. To get the look, ask for “very detailed and extensive cuticle work to accompany a gel manicure all done with an electronic nail file,” she says.

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French manicures are as classic as it gets — but there's nothing wrong with thinking outside the traditional white tips every once in a while.

“To the French manicure, we are adding embellishments, nail art, a few stones, or more detailed encasing," says Aaron. You can switch things up by taking a few cues from some of last year's trends, like the double French manicure, slanted tips, or even reversed tips.

"Basically, whatever your artistic eye can imagine is what we are doing,” Aaron adds.

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According to Totty, there's a shade of blue for every season, and they'll be all over our nail mood boards throughout the year. "Electric, cobalt blues in the summer and rich deep blues [will thrive] in the winter,” she says.

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Gerstein recommends metal accents to add a dash of excitement to any subtle nail color. “A heavy metal accent nail keeps it feminine, but throws in an unexpected metal element whether it’s foil, or a glitter with a reflective edge," she says.

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According to Aaron, you can always add an ombré effect to add some extra dimension to an otherwise subtle look. "It goes hand-in-hand with the natural look at the base and polish or embellished art at the free edge of the nail," she says.

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Orange is another simple shade that Boyce predicts will be woven into plenty of manicures throughout the year.

"There are so many ways to incorporate orange, from a softer, almost pastel peachy orange to a bright tangerine shade," she says. "You can wear a plain orange manicure or as a pop of color."

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Totty predicts that combination manicures will be super on trend this year. She describes the look as "four to five different colors mixed and matched across all ten fingers with different patterns and decals." This could include nails that are color-blocked, half-dipped, half-moon, or two-tone French.

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Some of us may still be putting all of our travel plans on hold for a while, but that doesn't mean you can't add an element of escapism to your manicure to give yourself some future vacation inspo.

“Vacation vibe nails are about telling a story, versus a singular color, with either graphic details or abstract stroke patterns — it’s about making your nails tell a color story,” Gerstein says.